- Safiu Kehinde
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commended President Bola Tinubu over the recent visit to the Republic of Niger by a high-ranking Nigerian military delegation led by Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna by the Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Tanko Muhammad-Baba.
According to the ACF, the visit signifies a positive shift in the relationship between Nigeria and Niger, which had been strained over the past year.
”The forum views this diplomatic engagement as a crucial step towards restoring the historically close and warm ties between the two West African neighbours.
”The ACF recalls the tension that arose following the military coup in Niger in July 2023,” the ACF said.
ACF also reacted to the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) suspension of Niger’s membership and imposition of series of sanctions, with Nigeria playing a leading role by closing its borders, imposing economic restrictions, cutting off essential supplies, and threatening military intervention.
The ACF submitted that, as the situation evolved, both ECOWAS and Nigeria opted for dialogue with the new Nigerien military regime.
“During this period, Niger forged new alliances with other West African nations such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea, and withdrew its forces from the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) combating terrorism in Northeast Nigeria”it said .
This, the forum recalled, led to a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Niger.
The forum, however, praised Gen. Musa’s bold and patriotic remarks during the visit, describing them as a signal of strength in the pursuit of fraternal African solidarity.
They urged the government and people of Niger to let bygones be bygones and work towards a renewed partnership with Nigeria.
The visit sought to encourage the military junta in charge of Niger Republic to renew ties with countries in the West African bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, since the bloodless coup in 2023 that led to military takeover of power in the country.